To my ear, the D 18 sounds best. All of those guitars are absolutely amazing.

GPTaylor 07:12 12:41 14:31 Martin D18 07:51 09:55 17:10 GibsonJ45S 09:14 10:52 15:52 GibsonJ45V 08:33 11:50 13:39

To be honest that D18 sounds better for me in my opinion.

J45 Vintage is my favorite. Most Gibsons have the sound that makes me want to listen and to play. The Grand Pacific has a richer tone than any Taylor I've heard before. Thanks for this excellent demonstration.

This video was so helpful to me thank you! I found myself humming and scatting to your playing on the J45 Vintage and then doing so even better on the Grand Pacific which I just purchased. Thanks again - you're really good at what you do.

Three great guitars...three different sounds, each precious. No winners/losers...just great musical instruments.

Outstanding video as always, Chris, and I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of a comparison. I can't wait to play one! That 517 is SO balanced on a mic.

Nice comparison, as always. It really helps identify what you like most.

If Taylor were indeed going for that old music sound, then they definitely achieved that. The comparison with the J-45 Vintage was really spot on. They sound like brothers.

Just purchased my first guitar and went based of a few recommendations and this video aided as well. Thank you. Happy owner of a J-45 😀

very good comparison and good playing! Thank you for this video!

Excellent review, Chris, as usual I learned a lot from your videos! I own a Martin Special D Ovangkol Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric and a Taylor 317e Grand Pacific and I can’t decide which one is better as I truly love them both! I am slightly partial to the Martin because it was my first guitar and I have loved the Martin sound for decades but the Taylor is superb! After watching this video, I will explore adding a Gibson to my collection (I am a lifelong piano & keyboard player who has just got into guitars) 😀😎

Thanks for taking the time to make this guys, it was a lot of fun to watch. I can understand why Taylor and Andy Powers want to have something very different from what Martin and Gibson offer, but only time will tell if the GP series is a winner. To my ears, this new model along with other "V-Class" guitars sounds more "modern" and "european". It seems like it would be more at home in a comparison with Lowden than with Martin.

Man I love your style of acoustic playing!!!

Nice Chris, comparisons are always useful -- that D-18, very nice

Thanks for the review... I just started looking for my next acoustic, and I found this extremely useful. Having played several Taylors I had completely ruled them out because of the lack of depth and "over-brightness" as I would probably describe it. I do think the D18 still sounds the most balanced of all of those guitars, but the J45 always seems to feel better and have a nice mellow deep tone. The 517 in your review sounds like a J45 Vintage with all it's deepness, but at the price of a J45 Standard, which makes me want to try it if I can find one (no luck so far, though). Really curious how you would say it feels as compared to the J45. I feel the D18 has a stiffer action, and the J45 is softer and easier in comparison. The Taylor 8 series I've tried seem to fall in between the two. Any thoughts on that? I know it's been a year, so..

The J-45 Vintage...deep, deep resonance reminiscent of the big box solid body Acoustics of the 30's & 40's... Great playing, Mon!!

All guitars sounds great. But I would like a 517 for new looks and a bit of a modern sound. Sound is such a personal thing.

A lot of people believe in martin including me but honestly i fell in love with the taylor and the j45 vintage.. Thanks for making this video man

Gibson J45 Vintage and Martin D-18 are the standouts for me (for different reasons), but all four guitars sound very nice, there ain't a runt in the litter! Hats off to Taylor for this welcome new line.

The J45 Standard had the most robust sound to my ear and was loudest. Loved the tone. Taylor was a bit thin in this group. My next purchase decision is going to be very tough, especially since my current guitar is jumbo, mahogany body and Sitka top. I will most likely head toward rosewood.

Beautiful guitars. Soundwise I choose the d18.

The 517 is a great guitar in all respects. I have played it, and also the other Grand Pacific models and really enjoy the instruments and all that they can create with so little effort. I have also played the Gibson models and they are fantastic as well. Choosing a guitar as to which is the right one for you is truly a very personal one. Best to put a guitar in your lap, play it and select the one that communicates with you over time. Keep coming back. Play it for an hour or more. No pressure from salesmen! What is the potential for you to work together in expressing and growing who you are as a musician?? You have to feel it, not just hear it. It takes two, the guitar as well as the musician. The relationship between the guitar and the one who plays it is what enables music to land, not just be heard. Listen for the complexity of the overtones. It is not only the note, but what happens to the space that surrounds it. I must say, as big of a Taylor fan that I am, in terms of it all coming down to the sound, the Martin D-18 really is at the top in that particular category- type. It really is. (Do check out the HD28 as well). I guess Martin has earned it as the reputation and history of these instruments precedes them for all the right reasons. Love playing Taylor guitars through!! Probably the most fun I have ever had playing any guitar of all the larger "mass-production" builders. I feel like I am on auto pilot with these guitars! Taylor 12 string models rule. All the best!

This is the perfect comparison of any guitar gear I have seen so far in general. It is also the right line up of options and styles for my current acoustic search. Finally, this channel was consistently the most helpful resource when I was all over the place with my acoustic search before narrowing it down. Many thanks for all that you are doing. Will definitely stop by the next time I make it to San Antonio.

Though Im not a Taylor fan, I must say that it sounds really good when finger picked here! THX

hey chris it’s michael great job,you need to put a lesson video on how to play those cool passages you play in all your videos,anyway love all those guitar i’m warming up to the grand pacific but you know me being a lead guitarist i need that cutaway to reach those higher notes will it come with that option and a lefty, model btw i still need a J-45 or J-15 to finish my collection and my wife needs a Taylor K12-E

They're all wonderful instruments. I've read comments about the record-ability and note distinction coming from one bracing pattern to the next, but I find that strings and top wood play the largest role, of course back and sides too. Hogs in general seem to have great clear piano like ring but also that non boomy growls low end that really rumbles your gut. I think hog instead of rosewood will make a larger difference regarding boo mines and note clarity than bracing pattern

They are all wonderful, really helpful review thanks. But my overall favourite was the Taylor 517 because it is so even-handed. The Martin wins in the power stakes but the Taylor has better articulation to my ear. I am more a fingerpicker so probably a bit biassed toward the performance in that arena. (Auckland, New Zealand)

Superb playing Chris and great comparo. Love the rounded out bass and mids of the Taylor Pacific, but respect for that Vintage Gibson too. The other two models sounded good but didn't have that special old something. What about that graphite nut? Do you think it does something to the sound?

D18 all the way!! You sold me!

Love how the J45 standard sounds!

I have a Martin Cherry OME, plays great but kinda twangy plugged in. I'm looking for a Gibson but the Taylor 517 sounded like it resonated more. Love to hear it amped.

The j45 vintage is my favorite. I was surprised that the Taylor sounded so similar. Very nice guitar. I still want the j45 vintage though. Thanks for the review.

Nice comparison. Btw what is the mic that you used to record these guitars?

nice side-by-side comparison. I liked the sound of the taylor second most to the j45 vintage; the d18 seemed to be the loudest, and i understand why people love it...not a bad guitar in the bunch. since the d-18 is in the mix, it would have been nice to see the guild d40 in the mix

The 517e is incredible. It's my "late to work" guitar ... just can't put it down...

This video makes a great case for owning multiple guitars. I'll be showing this to my wife! To my ear the J-45's had more bottom end which would work better in a solo singer/guitar setup. The Martin and Taylor were brighter which may let them cut through a mix better with a band. All sounded really good to me. If I could only have one I'd probably go for the J-45 Standard.

Great video for sure. Very interesting comparison of some very different sounding yet awesome and iconic guitars. Personally I’ve never been a Taylor fan. I tend to lean toward the Martin sound with Gibson as a very close second. The Taylor was super impressive. It has a more familiar tone more like the others. It does have that “old school” flavor similar to Gibson and Martin. I think in time it will open up and sound much better but for now I lean toward the Martin. It’s the best thing I’ve personally heard from Taylor and it refreshing to see them build something that has a classic flavor to it. Again great job on the comparison of some classic yet very different sounding instruments.

The 517 held it`s own when compared to the big name, big sound guitars but I have to say....the Martin D18 is so sweet sounding! This coming from a Taylor guy. :) Well done as usual brother!

The Gibson Vintage sounds so alive - first choice for sure. The D18 is always a great guitar.

Thank you for this review. I think the sections played up the neck, and finger style are where the Taylor differentiated itself. It seems as if You needed to attack the Gibson's (and to a slightly lesser extent, the Martin) a bit harder to get the same response.

They all sound great! You can't go wrong with any of them.

First of all, beautiful playing 👏 I can hear the difference clearly, the Taylor having great note separation, but overall, the J-45 has it for me; it's warmer, more rounded, and the highs still ring clear. J-45 Standard or Vintage? It's a close call but I would go with the Standard

The Martin has that sound that I've been hearing for many years now. It was brighter and had that full sound that I enjoy. Have you ever done a segment on Stonebridge guitars?

Great comparison as always. My preference is the J45 Standard. The Vintage J45 had a bit too much boom for me. I prefer the shorter scale on the Gibson's. The D18 sounds very good. Didn't like the Taylor as much. With that said, I currently own Taylor 214CE and 324CE acoustics. Being left-handed, it's great that Taylor makes all models in a lefty version. Thanks Chris!

Hi Chris, great review. Can you share the names of the songs you are playing? This gives us beginners something to strive to. Excellent review. I like the bigger sound of the D18, but I recently played a J45 and prefer it to the D18 when I'm actually playing it.

They all sound great. Each have their own strong points.

Thanks for a great comparison as always, but you should have played that lyrical finger style tune on the J45 vintage as well instead of the bluesy stuff, because I think the Vintage would have sounded great on that tune. All great guitars, but forced to choose, I'd go with the J45 vintage.

i have a Taylor 710 S.E. and a Martin D18. The Martin is my go to guitar. Sounds best on this vid for sure

No matter how often I test and listen to acoustics I always land on a J45 (standard, not the fake vintage). It'll just be a matter of finding one that is actually really good and without any defects that slipped through QC.

Musician friend of ours plays an Epiphone AJ45 that sounds similar to the J45 Vintage.....at a fraction of the cost. Has great electronics also.

Like the Taylor builders edition, the Martin (but in D-28) and Gison j45 Vintage. Thanks. Maybe a comparison with 2020 Gibson Historic, Martin Modern Deluxe and Taylor builders editions new for 2020?

wanted to like the J45s and they were fantastic, and although the vintage J45 was very close the Martin D-18 probably sounds best. The Taylor has made a huge improvement in the dreads but has less bass and more mids. Not as warm as the others.

Late to this party, but really loved the comparison, the playing, and all the thoughtful comments. The Martin has a smooth overall tone. But the lead lines, which I like to listen to, stand out better to my ear on the Taylor and the Gibsons, even if its at the cost of the fantastic Martin bass sound. I own a Taylor 614ce BE, and what I personally like about the Taylor signature sound is that, to my ear, the strings sound more like those on a piano (which I also play) than a guitar. They ring out. Great attack and lovely sustain. I get that others don’t like it because, to be honest, it is a different tone than any other brand. But I love it, and the Grand Pacific 517 BE is very appealing to my ears based not only on this video, but others. I also played a 517 in the store at the time I was also looking at the 614 that I ultimately preferred for not only sound, but also for it’s beveled Venetian cutaway. But the 517 was nipping at its heels. (Other guitars I considered at the time were the J-45 and Hummingbird (Studio models), and an HD-28).

They're all lovely - i'm just a dirt rider player so the workhorse is my choice and i've had mine 20 years now. You play very well. ⚘

hey chris good job 👍 great video love the taylor 517 and the J45 any chance you have one lefty

Despite all the V-Bracing and the new Grand Pacific shape, soundwise I still clearly go with the Martin D18. It's just this special sound and tonal balance.

I was really hoping for more out of the 517, but once again, the J45 Standard proves its worth, with the D18 winning the country/bluegrass category.

I was working with this playing in the background. Everytime you played the D-18 I looked up to see which one it was. D-18 ftw.

Great comparison. It re-enforces why I love D-18’s...lol. What is the second tune you use in the demo, I really like that one. Thanks for a great demo.

It would be very helpful to know what the strings are on each guitar being compared - gauge? coated or non-coated? Also, we know the fretboard radius of the Gibson is 12", and the Martin is 16" (flatter). I don't know the Taylor fretboard radius off hand - certainly flatter than Gibson, though.

All very lovely guitars... my dream would to own one of any of the these.. I would never buy another guitar I want to buy it and play it till I die and pass it to my kids and so on.. ill just keep saving till that day! First... I need to learn more then just one song! Lol but amazing video man keep it up!

Which would you recommend for a pick player for blues and rock?

The J45-Standard had really nice articulation. And strangely when I wasn't paying attention I thought the addy-top vintage J-45 was the martin.

I'm a huge Taylor fan and have been for many years.I own a k14, 814 , a 614, and a 510 from '91. In this comparison, the Martin sounded the best. Now I want a D-18!!!!!

I had the privilege of playing a 517, a 717 (both straight out of the box), and an assortment of high end Martins, Gibsons, and Guilds last week, and my takeaway playing them in person in a quiet acoustic room at a local music store was that if you handed those 2 Taylors to any objective experienced (those two things are probably mutually exclusive) guitar player they would like them and say they are good guitars that play and sound great. The new neck carve was interesting and i enjoyed playing it. To me and the other 5 or so people hanging around, the 717 was the unanimous winner between the two new Taylors. Where you will lose people is in trying to make them compete with a Martin, Gibson, or Guild dreadnought for a dreadnought sound. These guitars still have a distinctive "Taylor" sound and play and sound great. I was hoping they would sound less Taylor and more typical dreadnought based on the marketing, but that just wasn't the case. The AG expert at this music store who does multiple trips to Taylor and Martin every year and buys literally hundreds of thousands in high end acoustics annually said with confidence that it has to do with Taylor's neck joint and that as long as they do their necks the way they do they will always sound like Taylors and never be able to get the traditional "dreadnought sound". I don't know enough to comment on that. I left the store thinking, "that's a sweet acoustic guitar, but i would never buy it to fill the dreadnought niche in my collection."

I think they all sound great and very similar. If I were to spend my hard earned money on one, it would be the 517! The Taylor slope style dreadnaught held its own against those other fine guitars . I think the 517 had a bit more projection and sounded sweet with nice bass and treble notes coming out of it. Aesthetically, I think the 517 was the best looking guitar of the bunch and with the rounded edges on the binding , it would be the most comfortable to play! Taylor 517 wins it for me!

Which one is the best is easy to answer - All of them are the best. Honestly, these are all high end fiddles with exceptional build quality. Only one thing - they all sound different, so what you are listening for and want, will vary from player to player. I was amazed by the dynamics of the Gibson Std. J45 .. Notes seemed to be flying out at me from everywhere. I am listening to Klipsch Cornwall's powered by a Prima Luna amp that is driven by a PS Audio Direct Stream DAC. The D18 sounded exactly like a D18, it's got a sound, and if you want that sound nothing else will do, but in no way does it match the Std. J45 in dynamics. The music had greater layers with the Std. J45 and the notes blended nicely presenting a smoky butter smoothness that really grabbed a hold of my ears. Compared to the Std. J45 the D18 sounded a bit clinical. Not as smooth and not as dynamic, but the isolation of every note and crystal clarity really stood out in the D18. The Taylor and the Vintage Gibson are not front runners for me so I have nothing to say about them. Thanks for the cool vid. I already own a D18 and was not in the market for any guitar, but now a Gibson Std. J45 will have to be mine in the near future.

In this particular video, I prefer the sound of the J45 Standard the most--surprising, since I own a Taylor dread and a Martin 00L and I haven't played a Gibson acoustic yet that I like.

Bought the 517 Loving it !!!!!!!!!!!!

Loving the Gibson

i like the Gibson J45 Standard & Martin&Co. D18

What is the second song you’re playing?

The D-18 wins my ears over. And great playing, btw! 👍🏻

Please note the string gauge that you are using on your demo...and how string gauge affects the play/response of the instrument. Thanks in advance.

All sounded good at various times, but by the end it was apparent that the Martin was the smoothest, most solid- as if this were the guitar and the others were mimicking it. I was shocked, because I have a J45 and expected one of them to be more pleasing to me. Actually, the Standard came in second.

First and foremost: What a wonderful video comparison you guys did! That may be Taylor's best dread yet, but in my opinion it placed fourth in this sound test. Also, it simply doesn't have the mojo of either of the other icons, so I would never buy it over the others.

Chris, your playing has come a long way it seems? Maybe you just have a more thought out repertoire now for comparisons than I remember in the past. In any event, well done. Hey I’m curious if you’d give me your opinion. I have a Gibson J45 as my one and only at the moment and I love it to death. I have two grandkids and I want another high quality acoustic so they can each have a heirloom guitar from me when my days have passed. I’m leaning towards a Martin D18 or D28 as I’ve gotten into Bluegrass of late and can’t beat that Martin sound for this style. I realize the woods are the same between the J45 and D18 so it would make sense to get the Rosewood D28. But I’ve also read lots of reviews and despite similar woods, J45 and D18 are not to similar in sound. I play by myself mostly so the ability to cut through banjo and fiddle, etc doesn’t mean much. I’ve not played anything other than my J45 which I’ve had since I started playing in 2014. I’m aware it’s short scale vs the Martins but I’m sure I’ll get used to whatever I get easily enough. Your personal opinion, D28 or D18? Cost is not relevant as they both more than I need to spend 😂

If i had to pick any of these guitars in doomsday without any second thoughts i’ll grab the Martin D18’s!!!!

I found that the competition was pretty close except for the middle section where the Martin really shone. What was that you were playing, by the way, around the 10:00 minute mark? Beautiful tune...

Well done Taylor I love Martin's and Gibson drednaughts now I've always loved Taylors gs and ga now I have a Taylor drednaught to save up for wow

I love the d18 and j45 standard.... I had a d35 but had to get rid of it im allergic bad to something. Might be the rosewood who knows so am on the hunt for a mahogany.

My take: The Martin has way better tone separation, it plays clearer, and it is a lot easier to hear the finer strings. On the other hand, it does not have the same warm and cozy sound - there I think the Taylor wins (and I am wondering if it is the Taylor that sounds the most "vintage")? I think the Gibsons have a nice sound, especially exiting with the red spruce of the vintage model - I can hear the difference. I am not sure which of these would be my pick, though. I would have to try them in person. I would like the qualities of the Martin and of the Taylor in one guitar. Maybe not possible? Which of these do you (anyone) think sounds the most "vintage"?

I'm a sucker for Martins. My HD-28 just oozes complex sounds, depending on attack and voicings of course.

Like the D18 best although I acknowledge I’m prejudiced: I play a D18. Like the J45 standard too. The Taylor definitely holds it own. Why doesn’t it have a pick guard?

I think the biggest issue with Taylor's are the Elixr strings, every used Taylor I've played that has different strings has so much more warmth to it

you can't make a determination by listening to the recorded sound of a guitar. You have to experience it by playing it hands on. You can have 2 models of the same guitar and they will be different in tone and playability. I have a D-28 and a Gibson songwriter deluxe standard, that are great guitars, but my newly acquired 517e just blows them away. I played 2 other 717's and another 517, but they didn't impress me like the one I bought. I don't think you can go wrong with a Taylor. They have perfect intonation and sound wonderful acoustic or plugged in.

Generally I’m a Gibson man. Truth be told I’ve always wanted to like the Taylor’s but they never sound right. Always too bright and thin. However, I’m going to need to give one of these a try. As a big Bozeman fan I must say the Martin is the absolute winner, but I like the Taylor for #2 followed by the vintage J then the Standard. I still love my Gibson stuff and will continue to play em’ but there’s always room for friends!

As a rule of thumb I prefer Taylor to Martin with the exception of dreadnoughts thats were Martin shines . The Taylor has a clean sound with a solid mid range punch. But the Martin has that warmth they are known for . It will be interesting to see if Taylor can also dominate the tradition dreadnought market that has alway eluded them.

I love mahogony body acoustics!

From the perspective of a singer-songwriter I'm really liking the 517 for it's warm balanced roundness. While the others sound crisper and more distinctive in and of themselves, the 517 almost muffled in comparison, for singing there's a little bit too much chime and twang on the Martin. I can see why so many opt for the J 45 to be sure it's just there's so many versions with so much individual variance while the 517 seems to have consistency in their production.

What's the first song played in the comparisons? I feel like I should know it.

In my opinion, I thought the Taylor sounded a little more alive than the rest, the Martin sounded a little bassier, the Vintage coming a close second. The sustain in the Taylor with the note clarity makes it a winner.

When I was young, I would have been in heaven with any of these. That being said, I drive a Chevy, drink Coors and play an old D-28.

I could make an argument for any one of these four great guitars. All sounded different and wonderful in their own way. My Dad has always played a Martin, so that tone will always have a special place, but the others sounded outstanding. Would be a tough call in store. Maybe end up with 4 new guitars? Lol

I own 4 Martin dreads, D and HD 28`s and 35`s..I also own a J-45 TV. When compared in person, in the same room, the Martins are louder than the Gibby. With that said, there are days when I prefer the Gibson. I`ve never understood how people don`t get the difference between objective truth and personal preference. Most people would be happy to own any of the three in this video. I love my Martins, but the Gibson is a great guitar as well. I sold my Taylors....great guitars, but not the sound for me.

Is the D-18 the “reimagined” model??

Great video. The Martin and the Gibson ran it close. In my opinion Martin took the first round with the J45V taking the second. Round three could go either way. Martin is classic dreadnought though. As for Taylor, dreadnought isn’t at its greatest. It doesn’t sound bad here, but can go with Gibson and Martin. Now if you did a Grand Auditorium competition, Taylor very well could win

I find the Martin the most charming in this video but I bet the Taylor will cut through any mix right at the spot and will shine in a band. I have never really cared about Taylor but they produce a lot of useful stuff

Taylor sounded the best to me and the Gibson standard really surprised me I thought I'd like the v o s better but the standard won out. Martin sounded muddy in its minds so slightly unballanced.Thank you Chris all the guitars are very nice and have my respect prefferences are just that what my ear hears.